New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-23
A JERSEY RECTOR'S FRENZY.
SHOOTING HIS WIFE AND HIMsELF
INSANITY BELIEVED TO BE THE cAusE-oNE On
BOTH MAY REcuvyR

| BOTH MAY REcuvYR
The Rev. Charles w. Ward rector Of thA
Protestant Episcopal Church at Englewood, N.
jim what seems to have been a fit of mental
aberration-sbot hts wife early yesterday morning.
fired onco without effect at his little daughter.
and then turned his pistol upon himself. Ths
revolver was Of 32-calibre and the cartridges
were apparently trife short Of powder, and
neither Of the shots that took effect was imme.
diately fatal. The first bullet struck Mrs. Ward
in the left check. passing downward almost IA
the thorax. part OF her face is paralyzed and
the doctors fear that the wound win result sconcn
or later in lock-jaw. The clergyman himself had
put the muzzc Of the pistol close above the righf
ear and meant to fire upward into the BRAIN Tha
ball struck in sideways instead penetrating only
an inch and half and lodging fast against the
right temple bone. His condition last night was
serious, but much less dangerous than that OF bis
wife. Both may recover, but the chances point
decidedly the other way.
| Enslewood is greatly stirred up over 80 shock
ing and unaecountable tragedy. There is nOthl
ing in Mr.. Wards character or past record to
explain this bloodthrsty and suicidal mania He
has been well known In the village amiabis
and successful rector, and through the whole
diocese as a brilliant and eloquent preacher. ID
will be two years next Easter Sunday since he
preached his first sermon in the little PrOtestant
Episcopal church which shelters itself beneath
the trees and against the steep hills half way
UP the slope from the Northern New-Jersey Rail-
road station to the tip OF the Englewood crests.
He was then about forty years old. TALL stout.
robust-loo<ng, in the prime Of health and mental
powers. He had left parish in Providence o
dozen years or more ago and taken one in Winona.
Minnesota and then another in Grand Rapids.
Michigan For some years he had been doing
,secto il, off hat In
he had been an assistant at Lenten services at
st. Thofnas's Church. this city. His reputation
for striking sermons brought him the offer OF the
assistant rectCrship Of st. 1homass and only last
summer he had a call from large church In
Buffalo. The last two came after his settlement
in Englewood, and to keep the small but growing
church there lie declined both.
Last August he married Miss Van Schaick, Oh
Kinderhook sister Of Mrs. Aaron j. VanderpoeL
of Ncw-Yorl<. lie had lest three wives and had
two children, Bessie, ace six, by the first wife,
and Charlie boy still younger, by the second.
During his last widowerhood cousin OF his
fathers, Miss Hall, woman of middle age, had
lived as housekeeper with him and the two
children in the Englewood rectory. She was with
the family still On Monday night when tho tragedy
occurred She and the little girl, who escaped
her maddened fathers bullet, were the only Wiz
nesses Of the shooting, and from their testimony
as well as from the wounded womans admissions
to the doctors in attendance, the following aoa
count Of what happened has been had.
Mr. Ward went up to Irvington last Sunday
with Mrs. Ward and preached there twice. he
had been complaining Of insomnia for some time,
and was extremely restless ard irritable on ooth
Saturday and Sunday nights. His sermons were
as good as ever, notwithstanding, and his wife.
who had never known him more eloquent and
f;x+o IN fba tntf sod
fering from a mere fit of depression. reaction
from overwork. All day Monday, however. hia
ncry business seemed to increase, and on Monday
night his worry and fdseting reached almost tho
fever point. He grew excited over the simplest
matters and plainly lost control of his temper and
tongue.
About half-rast ten in the evening he asked
Mrs. Ward to run off some letters in letter.
press She did So but, as he thought. awlxwardly.
at which she got so vexed and excited that She
had to leave the room. Going up stairs she made
ready for going to bed, taking a small single
ruom just off and opening from the larger douole
bed room on the second floor Since Mr.. WARDS
attacks of insomnia he has been in the habit on
working at night and sleeping during the days
and his wife had no idea of seeing him agaln
before morning. In half hour. however, ne
appeared, looking much calmer and more collected
lie begged pardon for his rudeness down stalra
and added:
"Thcre is no use taking any notice Of my little
difficulties I do not mean what seem to theH
como over me-"
His wife was Modified. Of course, and aften
kissing her and saying good he went down
to his study again. Miss Hall got through witn
the letters satisfactorily and also went to bedt
leaving the clergyman alone down stairs.
About half-past o'clock yesterday morning
his wife was awakened by his entering the small
BEDROOM lie wanted to 20 to bed, he said,
and insisted that she should come out with him
into the large room. She objected to this 40
first but finally agreed to do what he wanted ID
would promise not to talk and keep her awake.
lie seemed to be still somewhat irrltated and
restless. but managed TO keep rather quiet fon
nearly an hour. Suddenly he jumped out OF bed
and announced that he was going to New-forx.
He hc2an drcssnc, and his wife. In order u avoio
ruffiing him. went back to the small room. Inc
excited clergyman was fast losing control OF him
self and rambled along incoherently about hh
Going to New-Yorlx, asking his vito questions
without waiting for replies, jumping about the
room IN his eagerness to be dressed and behaving
altorether In a most unreasonable way. Mrs. ward
Maid no attention to his talk or preparations. lying
with her eyes closed on the pea OF .he 'aie % roc &
Lost sleeye buttons which Mr.. Ward thought he
had ready 10 put on but could not hud; he looked
bis wife Joined rather mechanically in the
search, still ignoring his wild talk. This lrrl,
tated him more than ever, apparently. he said
arain. decidedly. that he was going to New-York.
his w asked who Sim saw What n0T Se tna: WA:
mo,,o efor and how long he WAS
Going to stay he refused point blank to tell her. Ho
Sdt on his coat and seemed determined to start out
Sleeve. p buttons or no seeve-buttons. Finally. to
%rng the matter to close, Mrs. Ward said firmly;
II you go to New-York. shall 90 back TO Kim
dcrhOok for couple of weeks .
He stor,Led about in q rage, getting an the more
furous that his wife lay quietly on the bed wItn
hsr sves closed. qnite insensbe to his appeals
and t6reats Finally he rushed down stairs into
the library took pistol that he had had lying for
~ :. ..ors IN sod in his writing -deSk and